National Almond Day…and a Giveaway!

UPDATE: This giveaway is over. Thanks to those who commented. The winner of the Almond Bundle is Lauren who commented “Almonds are my favorite nut! I add sliced almonds to my oatmeal/ yogurt, snack on raw almonds with dried fruit, and add them to a kale-lentil-sweet potato-feta salad! Almonds make everything that much more delicious. Now on a French macaron kick, trying to master these delightful almond flour treats! It would be great to win such wonderful almost products and keep adding them to my daily meals! Thanks for the opportunity!”. Congratulations Lauren!

Note: The winner was chosen by Random.org.

In anticipation of National Almond Day coming up on February 16, let’s celebrate yummy almonds! The Almond Board of California sent me an amazing bundle of almond goodies and I’m excited to be teaming up with them to host this giveaway to one of YOU–my wonderful readers :)

The Beloved Almond

Almonds are one of my (and my husband’s) favorite nuts, but we’re not alone. According to the Almond Board, almonds are California’s largest tree nut crop and they are also the largest US specialty crop export. No surprise–They’re crunchy, naturally sweet, and so satisfying. The one ounce portion that is recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans equals 23 almonds (as opposed to about 17 cashews, 14 walnut halves, 7 brazil nuts, or 11 macadamias). Almonds have a high amount of protein, with 6 grams per ounce, and beat out other nuts for fiber content with 3.5 grams per ounce. In addition, most of the fat per serving (10 out of the 15 grams) is monounsaturated (aka Heart Healthy).

Store Them Right

Since almonds are a good source of fat, you want to make sure to store them properly to keep them from going rancid. I keep some in my fridge for immediate use–I like to make almond milk, almond-based desserts, and use add almonds to salads and veggie dishes. The rest I keep in the freezer where they will keep for two years without a significant loss in quality.

Be Creative

The Almond Board’s website is chock full of great information on almonds as well as tips on how to incorporate an ounce into your day in a tasty way. Here are some of there ideas:

Make almond butter: grind whole almonds with a little oil and salt in a food processor (way easy!)

Make “croutons” by tossing flaked almonds with a little bit of olive oil, Parmesan cheese (or a vegan alternative), and garlic salt. Bake in a 350? oven for 10-15 minutes until golden brown

Add texture to a parfait by layering chopped almonds and fruit with yogurt

So Many Almonds…

If you noticed, the ideas use different shapes and sizes of almonds, That’s because there are so many forms of almonds that you can buy and experiment with, including:

Whole

Slices or Flakes

Slivers or Halves

Diced or Chopped

Meal or Flour

“Milk”

Paste and Butter

Oil

Honey Clusters

There were so many delectable looking recipes in the cookbook (that you can win below!), but I chose a simple, 3-ingredient recipe for Honey Clusters. Just ground almond, roasted almonds, honey, and 30 minutes in the oven. My kind of recipe!

Here’s a photo journal of this quick, simple, and husband-tested almond cookie:

Now, back to the giveaway!

The National Almond Day Celebration Bundle is in my almond-loving opinion a winner!

Almond Flour for higher-protein and/or gluten-free baking:

Blanched Sliced Almonds to sprinkle over your morning oatmeal:

Almond Butter for spreading on toast or adding to smoothies:

TWO adorable and portion-perfect Almond Tins to hold 23 almonds:

Almond Inspiration Cookbook because who doesn’t love if not need more cookbooks:

Enter To Win!

To enter to win this Bundle of Almond Goodness, submit a comment below telling me how you add almonds to your meals or snacks. This giveaway will end at Midnight PST on Friday, February 15. Winners will be announced the following Tuesday. Good luck and here’s to almonds!

To show your love for almonds and stay updated with new recipes featuring this popular nut, follow California Almonds on Facebook at http://facebook.com/almondboard and on Twitter at @almonds.

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There are 21 comments

Almonds are my favorite nut! I add sliced almonds to my oatmeal/ yogurt, snack on raw almonds with dried fruit, and add them to a kale-lentil-sweet potato-feta salad! Almonds make everything that much more delicious. Now on a French macaron kick, trying to master these delightful almond flour treats! It would be great to win such wonderful almost products and keep adding them to my daily meals! Thanks for the opportunity!

I love to use almonds for breakfast with my oatmeal. But I really enjoy making different home made granola bars and almonds are always one of the ingredients I use. The granola bars makes a great snack for me at work and is always a fun way to try new things (by adding all different ingredients in them).
For my ultimate favorite way to eat my almonds I would have to say is roasted almonds coated with cinnamon sugar. It makes a great snack or even a healthy alternative to dessert, instead of the usual ice cream or pie.

I love almond butter in my oats and on my sweet potatoes. I put almond milk in my cereal and almond meal in my baked goods. Plus, I like to make my own trail mix with raw almonds, dried fruit, and chocolate chips!

Oh my, don’t even get me started. I eat almond butter every morning either on my oatmeal or my cereal. I’ve never enjoyed the taste of peanut butter, so it was my way into the nut butter world. It’s the best part! I also eat almonds or almond based bars for snacks. Oh, and you can’t forget the vanilla almond milk that I put in waffles, pancakes, coffee, cereal, oats, etc! Chocolate covered almonds from Trader Joe’s? Yes please!

I always toast them since it enhances the natural nutty flavor. I use slivered almonds in cupcakes, sprinkle them in my oatmeal or yogurt or create a cheese, nuts and fruit platter. Gotta love almonds!

My family loves almonds. We add crushed roasted almonds on top of our muffins before we bake them, we make our own snack mixes and include them as the nut. Some times we just have mini bowls that I set out for the kids to add to their breakfast. They love measuring them chopping them and that they are healthy finger food! They help support our desire for clean eating.